This week: Fauxtymology Edited by: Robert Waltz  
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Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.
—Salman Rushdie
Etymology: from Latin ad-, "to" + visum, past participle of videre, "to see". Advice is what you get from your parents when you are growing up, and from your children when you are growing old.
—Evan Esar |
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It is well-known that the word "tips" originated as an acronym for "To Insure Prompt Service."
While it is well-known, it is wrong. No matter how often this fauxtymology (for that is what I call fake etymology) is publicly debunked, there are always those who pay no attention, or stubbornly cling to their error.
The actual origin is somewhat uncertain, but that's no excuse to just make stuff up. No, the only good excuses to just make stuff up involve fiction writing and comedy.
For instance, as far as I'm aware, no one actually believes that the automaker Ford started out as an acronym for "Found On Road, Dead." We accept that the company is named after its founder. (Where he got his name is also debatable, but it probably had to do with shallow-depth river crossings, which Fords are ironically not very good at, being land vehicles and not boats.)
But it's objectively funny, so there's no problem with sharing this fauxtymology.
Since this and other persistent fauxtymologies exist, some of which would be inappropriate in a family newsletter, despite every effort at debunking, I figured: if we can't spread facts, why not join the crowd and just make up our own word origins?
"Politics," for example. From the roots "poly," meaning many; and "ticks," disgusting blood-suckers.
Or maybe "comedy," a word with which I hope you're familiar, considering that you're reading this editorial. In reality, while it wasn't always synonymous with laughter-inducing humor, the word apparently comes from Greek roots meaning something like {xlink:https://www.etymonline.com/word/comedy#etymonline_v_15861}"festival singer."
But that's boring. Why not start a rumor that it actually comes from the Latin word "coma" combined with whatever the root source of "die" is. No, not in the sense of croak, kick the bucket, or cease to exist, but rather those cubes marked with pips that always lose me a lot of money in Vegas.
Because it's a die roll whether someone will wake up from a coma, but humor seems to help?
No?
Okay, fine, make up your own, then. |
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Last time, in "Telling Jokes" , I discussed in-person joke-telling sessions.
Clearly, everyone was laughing too hard to comment.
So that's it for me for June! See you next month. Until then,
LAUGH ON!!!
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Comedy: June 19, 2024 Issue [#12600]
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